Dear Mr. Eldredge,
In the snowy driveway of our twenty-acre parcel of mountain land, I gazed at the thousands of stars shimmering in the somber winter night sky. As I shivered in the darkness, a rhyme drifted into my thoughts: “I want to touch the stars tonight, but I can only reach so far; the chains that bind my heart, keep me from the nearest star.” I stayed in the yard until my toes began to feel numb despite the heavy winter boots I wore. I turned away with a sigh and trudged back to the house. The stars were always flickering beyond my reach.
Or so I thought.
I believed that my deepest longings were exactly like those beautiful stars – they could never be fully attained. My secret hopes were, to me, stunning and utterly breath-taking. I was enraptured by them; my heart would soar whenever they crossed my mind. I would wish with my entire heart that dreams could come true. But brutal reality insisted otherwise. Life chided me to cease chasing after shooting stars and come back to planet Earth. After all, I did have a respectable future with which to be concerned. Graduation was coming in the spring, and college looming on the horizon. Forget what my heart was urging; bury my most fantastical desires.
It was at this point in time that I read Dare to Desire. Although I had been greatly affected by your book Epic, I had no idea of how Dare to Desire would touch my heart. I did not realize how it would change my outlook on life.
In Dare to Desire, you posed a question that made me stop and reread the passage. You asked, “If you could do what you’ve always wanted to do, what would it be?” I can still remember the surge of exhilaration I felt when I read that question. “Anything?” my heart asked. Your book assured me, “Anything.” I knew the answer. I would write – novels, stories, articles, poems, and letters – all for the pure joy of writing. I would play on the heartstrings of my readers; I would inspire them in the same way that I myself had often been inspired. Oh, the pure elation that coursed through my body at the mere thought of this dream! But then I hesitated. Was it possible? Could my desire become my life, or would it remain a haunting pastime which would beg for more attention than I could ever give it?
“It is possible,” Dare to Desire whispered. “If you only dare to desire; if you only dare to follow your heart; if you only dare to accept the adventure God had placed before you.”
My heart came alive within me and I knew my answer. All the passion I had buried burst out in a flood of hope. I would dare to desire.
I have realized that life holds unlimited potential and promise if I follow God’s plan and the deep desires He has set in my heart. For these desires are not fantastical whims, but the foundations of promising goals. Life is giving me an opportunity to follow my heart. Is it dangerous? Certainly, and I know I will probably have more than one agony along the way. But if I have faith in God to carry me through, and if I trust that He will give me “the desires of my heart” as He has promised, then the rewards will outweigh all tragedy.
I have discovered that dreams do come true. I know that desires can be fulfilled.
Tonight, I can touch the stars.
Sincerely,
Lauren Bryan
Friday, February 19, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Finding Tyler
“Tyler is missing again?” I snarled. Jinx, my buckskin Quarter Horse, pricked his ears at my tone and I took a deep breath to calm my anger. “What happened this time?” I asked Jess.
My younger sister had been waiting in the barn for me to return from checking cows on the north pasture. I was drenching wet from the thunderstorm and the news about Tyler did little to improve my spirits.
“We don’t know for sure, David. He was here at lunch and then I couldn’t find him about an hour later. When I went to look for him, Sadie was gone too,” Jess explained, nervously twisting a piece of straw.
Wonderful. Our ten-year-old cousin Tyler, seven years my junior, had been sent out to our ranch for “summer vacation.” My personal opinion was that his parents were fed up with him. I would have been too. After all the havoc he had caused at our ranch in the past month, I didn’t know how I could endure his antics for the rest of the summer. Now he had disappeared yet again, and with the only other horse on the home place.
“Here we go again,” I muttered. I swung onto Jinx’s back and adjusted the reins. Regardless of Tyler’s behavior, I knew I had to find him before night fall and the bitter mountain air closed in on the valley.
“I’ll be praying,” Jess promised. She didn’t meet my gaze, but worry shimmered in her eyes. Jess had always been more patient and loving toward Tyler than I could be; I merely attempted to tolerate him.
“We’ll be back soon,” I assured her. She offered a weak smile as I rode back out into the ranch yard.
I could tell Jinx wasn’t too impressed with the idea of rejoining the downpour. His ears were flat and I felt his back humped beneath my Western saddle. “Look, buddy, this wasn’t my idea of how to spend the evening either. But the faster you help me find your friend Sadie, the sooner we’ll be back home,” I coaxed. Jinx stamped a hind hoof. Obviously, he was in no mood to be pleasant.
I pulled my hat down against the driving rain. It would be no use trying to track Sadie in this weather. So where would Tyler have taken her? On second thought, Tyler didn’t know very well how to manage a horse so he probably would have been more apt to let Sadie do the leading. Which meant, of course, the lower meadows behind the ridge, Sadie’s favorite place on earth. I touched Jinx with my heels and he broke into a reluctant trot.
We reached the meadows with little difficulty. Jinx knew the path as well as I did and the worst part was Deer Creek, which had swollen to twice its size but wasn’t much of a challenge for my heavy-boned ranch horse. We plunged through the creek and loped into the meadow. With dusk having fallen, I could only see by flashes of lightning or bits of moonlight that managed to penetrate the thick cloud cover.
“Tyler!” I shouted. “Sadie!” Jinx suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, nearly throwing me over his shoulder. He lifted his head to the wind and snorted in the air before releasing a welcoming whinny that shook his entire body. Another whinny replied in the distance and Jinx jumped toward the sound. As we sped across the meadow, I saw Sadie’s palomino color dimly advancing like a ghost. When we met, Jinx and Sadie rubbed muzzles while I cast an appraising glance over Tyler, who was shivering on Sadie’s bare back and clutching her mane.
“You okay?” I asked. I did my best to be sincere and hide the annoyance I felt. Tyler nodded. He was shaking from limb to limb and his eyes held the terrified look that a rabbit wore when caught in the talons of a hawk. I couldn’t help but pity the sopping wet city kid. “Come on,” I said, “let’s go home.”
Jinx and I trotted back across the meadow with Sadie following closely. The storm was abating, but the creek, rushing madly down its bed, loomed before us. Jinx forged across it, but when we reached the other side, Sadie was still dancing on the opposite edge of the creek, terrified of the swirling waters.
“The water’s too fast!” Tyler wailed. “She won’t go in.”
“Give her a kick,” I shouted over the noise of the creek. “She needs to be encouraged.”
“I can’t! We won’t make it!” Tyler screamed.
“Yes, you will,” I shouted. “Come on, Tyler, you can do it.”
“No, I can’t!”
Jinx struck the ground with a hoof and jangled the bit. Frustrated, I slammed my heels into his side and sent him back across the creek to Tyler and Sadie.
“Look, Tyler…” I began, every trembling muscle in my soaked body ready to give him the tongue lashing he deserved. But I stopped, the words tainting my mouth. Tyler’s shoulders heaved with every gasping, sobbing breath.
He was crying.
I was dumbfounded. Tyler – the secure, egotistical braggart – was weeping.
I was seeing a Tyler that I had never known existed.
I swallowed hard. Suddenly I didn’t feel like unleashing my wrath on him. Actually, I couldn’t even say that I felt angry anymore. I was sympathetic. And ashamed of my own behavior.
“Tyler,” I crooned, using the same voice I used when gentling a young colt, “slip on behind my saddle. Jinx will take us both across and Sadie will follow.” Tyler raised his head and sniffed with tear-filled eyes. I sidled Jinx closer to Sadie. Tyler managed to wiggle on behind me. His arms gripped around my waist as he snuggled against me.
“Okay?” I asked. I heard a muffled “yes” in reply. “Hang on,” I instructed. Jinx splashed through Deer Creek and eagerly pranced toward home. Sadie whinnied frantically before bounding through the creek and galloping after us.
The barn was a welcome relief from the damp night. I dismounted and helped Tyler, stiff and cold, to the ground. You get inside and warmed up,” I urged. “I’ll be inside after I take care of the horses.”
Tyler looked up at me, his eyes tired and bloodshot, his blond hair matted into clumps and corkscrews. He threw his arms around me to hug me. Surprised, I almost pulled away, but then relaxed and massaged his back.
Tyler sniffed. “I love you, David,” he whispered.
I tensed at the un-masculine emotions Tyler’s voice evinced in me. But I swallowed my pride and answered through a tight throat, “I love you, too, Tyler.”
I truly meant it.
My younger sister had been waiting in the barn for me to return from checking cows on the north pasture. I was drenching wet from the thunderstorm and the news about Tyler did little to improve my spirits.
“We don’t know for sure, David. He was here at lunch and then I couldn’t find him about an hour later. When I went to look for him, Sadie was gone too,” Jess explained, nervously twisting a piece of straw.
Wonderful. Our ten-year-old cousin Tyler, seven years my junior, had been sent out to our ranch for “summer vacation.” My personal opinion was that his parents were fed up with him. I would have been too. After all the havoc he had caused at our ranch in the past month, I didn’t know how I could endure his antics for the rest of the summer. Now he had disappeared yet again, and with the only other horse on the home place.
“Here we go again,” I muttered. I swung onto Jinx’s back and adjusted the reins. Regardless of Tyler’s behavior, I knew I had to find him before night fall and the bitter mountain air closed in on the valley.
“I’ll be praying,” Jess promised. She didn’t meet my gaze, but worry shimmered in her eyes. Jess had always been more patient and loving toward Tyler than I could be; I merely attempted to tolerate him.
“We’ll be back soon,” I assured her. She offered a weak smile as I rode back out into the ranch yard.
I could tell Jinx wasn’t too impressed with the idea of rejoining the downpour. His ears were flat and I felt his back humped beneath my Western saddle. “Look, buddy, this wasn’t my idea of how to spend the evening either. But the faster you help me find your friend Sadie, the sooner we’ll be back home,” I coaxed. Jinx stamped a hind hoof. Obviously, he was in no mood to be pleasant.
I pulled my hat down against the driving rain. It would be no use trying to track Sadie in this weather. So where would Tyler have taken her? On second thought, Tyler didn’t know very well how to manage a horse so he probably would have been more apt to let Sadie do the leading. Which meant, of course, the lower meadows behind the ridge, Sadie’s favorite place on earth. I touched Jinx with my heels and he broke into a reluctant trot.
We reached the meadows with little difficulty. Jinx knew the path as well as I did and the worst part was Deer Creek, which had swollen to twice its size but wasn’t much of a challenge for my heavy-boned ranch horse. We plunged through the creek and loped into the meadow. With dusk having fallen, I could only see by flashes of lightning or bits of moonlight that managed to penetrate the thick cloud cover.
“Tyler!” I shouted. “Sadie!” Jinx suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, nearly throwing me over his shoulder. He lifted his head to the wind and snorted in the air before releasing a welcoming whinny that shook his entire body. Another whinny replied in the distance and Jinx jumped toward the sound. As we sped across the meadow, I saw Sadie’s palomino color dimly advancing like a ghost. When we met, Jinx and Sadie rubbed muzzles while I cast an appraising glance over Tyler, who was shivering on Sadie’s bare back and clutching her mane.
“You okay?” I asked. I did my best to be sincere and hide the annoyance I felt. Tyler nodded. He was shaking from limb to limb and his eyes held the terrified look that a rabbit wore when caught in the talons of a hawk. I couldn’t help but pity the sopping wet city kid. “Come on,” I said, “let’s go home.”
Jinx and I trotted back across the meadow with Sadie following closely. The storm was abating, but the creek, rushing madly down its bed, loomed before us. Jinx forged across it, but when we reached the other side, Sadie was still dancing on the opposite edge of the creek, terrified of the swirling waters.
“The water’s too fast!” Tyler wailed. “She won’t go in.”
“Give her a kick,” I shouted over the noise of the creek. “She needs to be encouraged.”
“I can’t! We won’t make it!” Tyler screamed.
“Yes, you will,” I shouted. “Come on, Tyler, you can do it.”
“No, I can’t!”
Jinx struck the ground with a hoof and jangled the bit. Frustrated, I slammed my heels into his side and sent him back across the creek to Tyler and Sadie.
“Look, Tyler…” I began, every trembling muscle in my soaked body ready to give him the tongue lashing he deserved. But I stopped, the words tainting my mouth. Tyler’s shoulders heaved with every gasping, sobbing breath.
He was crying.
I was dumbfounded. Tyler – the secure, egotistical braggart – was weeping.
I was seeing a Tyler that I had never known existed.
I swallowed hard. Suddenly I didn’t feel like unleashing my wrath on him. Actually, I couldn’t even say that I felt angry anymore. I was sympathetic. And ashamed of my own behavior.
“Tyler,” I crooned, using the same voice I used when gentling a young colt, “slip on behind my saddle. Jinx will take us both across and Sadie will follow.” Tyler raised his head and sniffed with tear-filled eyes. I sidled Jinx closer to Sadie. Tyler managed to wiggle on behind me. His arms gripped around my waist as he snuggled against me.
“Okay?” I asked. I heard a muffled “yes” in reply. “Hang on,” I instructed. Jinx splashed through Deer Creek and eagerly pranced toward home. Sadie whinnied frantically before bounding through the creek and galloping after us.
The barn was a welcome relief from the damp night. I dismounted and helped Tyler, stiff and cold, to the ground. You get inside and warmed up,” I urged. “I’ll be inside after I take care of the horses.”
Tyler looked up at me, his eyes tired and bloodshot, his blond hair matted into clumps and corkscrews. He threw his arms around me to hug me. Surprised, I almost pulled away, but then relaxed and massaged his back.
Tyler sniffed. “I love you, David,” he whispered.
I tensed at the un-masculine emotions Tyler’s voice evinced in me. But I swallowed my pride and answered through a tight throat, “I love you, too, Tyler.”
I truly meant it.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Ride
“I knew I shouldn’t have eaten breakfast this morning,” Samantha mourned as her stomach roiled tensely.
“If you hadn’t eaten any breakfast, you wouldn’t have had enough energy to ride well today,” Aunt June replied practically. She finished netting Samantha’s thick brown hair and tenderly straightened the velvet bow holding the net in place. “There now; stand up and let me get a look at you.”
Samantha’s English riding boots clicked the floor of the trailer dressing room as she stood to face her aunt. From her tan jodphurs to her tailored riding jacket, she was the pristine model of an English equestrian. Her trembling hands grasped the velvet-covered hard hat, and her eyes glowed with an invincible eagerness.
Aunt June’s studious face softened into a smile. “You look beautiful. You’ll do fine today.”
This was the first time Samantha had ridden her new Dutch Warmblood, King, in a jumping competition. It was also the first time that she had competitively jumped fences over 3 feet tall; the highest one today was 3 feet 6 inches.
“Samantha Blewitt to the ring, please; Samantha Blewitt on King’s Ransom,” called the announcer.
Samantha’s gut tightened as she nudged King with her heels. “Good luck!” Aunt June encouraged warmly.
As she rode into the ring, Samantha instinctively touched the cross pin on the lapel of her coat. Her mother had taught her to pray before every ride, whether competing or practicing. “God, be with this ride. Keep King and me safe,” she whispered.
Gathering her reins, Samantha asked King to canter a circle before beginning the course. The first jump was a gate, which King easily cleared. Then an oxer, followed by a water jump. Samantha began to relax as she felt King’s stride beneath her. He soared over the two double jumps and then a stack of golden straw bales. The crowd cheered as horse and rider successfully completed the triple jump, which had been causing a great deal of trouble for other competitors.
Only the brick wall remained.
As it loomed before them, Samantha trembled. It was a massive jump, and she had rarely jumped its height even at home. King, sensing her fear, hesitated and flicked his ears. “God, please, help,” Samantha whispered desperately. God’s words to Joshua drifted into her mind: “Be strong and courageous.”
Samantha lifted her chin, readjusted her reins, and squeezed her legs around King’s barrel. He responded with long, powerful strides, followed by a tremendous leap. As they soared over the wall with inches to spare, the audience cheered ecstatically.
Samantha rubbed King’s glistening neck in praise as they left the ring. Then her eyes lifted to heaven and her hand once more touched the silver cross. Oblivious to the applause and excited shouts of the crowd, she whispered, “Thank You, God.” A warm, contented smile crossed her face.
It had been a wonderful ride.
“If you hadn’t eaten any breakfast, you wouldn’t have had enough energy to ride well today,” Aunt June replied practically. She finished netting Samantha’s thick brown hair and tenderly straightened the velvet bow holding the net in place. “There now; stand up and let me get a look at you.”
Samantha’s English riding boots clicked the floor of the trailer dressing room as she stood to face her aunt. From her tan jodphurs to her tailored riding jacket, she was the pristine model of an English equestrian. Her trembling hands grasped the velvet-covered hard hat, and her eyes glowed with an invincible eagerness.
Aunt June’s studious face softened into a smile. “You look beautiful. You’ll do fine today.”
This was the first time Samantha had ridden her new Dutch Warmblood, King, in a jumping competition. It was also the first time that she had competitively jumped fences over 3 feet tall; the highest one today was 3 feet 6 inches.
“Samantha Blewitt to the ring, please; Samantha Blewitt on King’s Ransom,” called the announcer.
Samantha’s gut tightened as she nudged King with her heels. “Good luck!” Aunt June encouraged warmly.
As she rode into the ring, Samantha instinctively touched the cross pin on the lapel of her coat. Her mother had taught her to pray before every ride, whether competing or practicing. “God, be with this ride. Keep King and me safe,” she whispered.
Gathering her reins, Samantha asked King to canter a circle before beginning the course. The first jump was a gate, which King easily cleared. Then an oxer, followed by a water jump. Samantha began to relax as she felt King’s stride beneath her. He soared over the two double jumps and then a stack of golden straw bales. The crowd cheered as horse and rider successfully completed the triple jump, which had been causing a great deal of trouble for other competitors.
Only the brick wall remained.
As it loomed before them, Samantha trembled. It was a massive jump, and she had rarely jumped its height even at home. King, sensing her fear, hesitated and flicked his ears. “God, please, help,” Samantha whispered desperately. God’s words to Joshua drifted into her mind: “Be strong and courageous.”
Samantha lifted her chin, readjusted her reins, and squeezed her legs around King’s barrel. He responded with long, powerful strides, followed by a tremendous leap. As they soared over the wall with inches to spare, the audience cheered ecstatically.
Samantha rubbed King’s glistening neck in praise as they left the ring. Then her eyes lifted to heaven and her hand once more touched the silver cross. Oblivious to the applause and excited shouts of the crowd, she whispered, “Thank You, God.” A warm, contented smile crossed her face.
It had been a wonderful ride.
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